Survey Statistician Careers

Survey Statistician Careers Information

Survey statisticians apply statistical methods and mathematical theory to write, collect and organize polls and surveys. They then analyze numerical data from these surveys to provide useful or beneficial information.

Survey statisticians begin by designing the surveys, creating layouts, writing questions, and preparing test questions to ensure their clarity and accuracy. In addition to editing and analyzing data, survey statisticians’ track responses throughout the survey process. As errors can effect the outcome of the surveys, statisticians must communicate with the respondents to verify that the data is correct.

Once data has been analyzed and edited, statisticians prepare the information for publication, which consists of developing charts and graphs, and verifying the consistency of the information.

Many survey statisticians specialize in subfields, such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics and economic statistics. They work in medicine and public health, law, education, forestry and agriculture, and social sciences among other fields.

The area of employment reflects the type of work a survey statistician does, for example, one working in biology may be required to develop ways to estimate sizes of wildlife population, whereas one working in medicine might be working to develop methods for estimating the effects of environmental toxins when comparing samples from neighboring cities.

Survey Statistician Careers Path

If you’re interested in becoming a survey statistician, a bachelor’s degree is needed. While many schools offer programs specifically catered to statisticians, the name of the degree is not nearly as important as the academic achievements needed to be successful.

This path should include at least 6 semester hours of statistics, 9 hours of either statistics or math, and 9 hours in physical, biological, or social sciences, medicine, education, or engineering.

Most entry-level positions require a master’s degree in statistics or mathematics. Opportunities for promotion are best for those with advanced degrees, and will allow those to receive training and experience in particular areas of statistics.

Survey Statistician Careers: Compatible Personality Traits

Analytical, detail-oriented, highly organized, methodical

Survey Statistician Careers: Salary Expectations

In May 2009, 21,370 statisticians were employed. The average annual salary was $72,820, and the middle 50 percent earned between $50,590 and $95,740. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,430, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $117,210.

Federal, State, and local governments employed 30% of statisticians. The annual salary for a statistician working for the Federal government was $92,322. Private industry employers include scientific research and development services, insurance carriers, and pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing.

Survey Statistician Careers: Job Outlook

Employment of statisticians is expected to grow 13% during the 2008-2018 decade, which is slightly faster than average for all careers. Those with a degree in statistics have the opportunity to seek employment in a variety of fields, as most jobs require the analysis and interpretation of data at some level.

Additionally, with the use of computers, statisticians are able to analyze and interpret large sets of data at a much higher pace than without computer processing. Therefore, as data processing become less cost efficient, more employers will seize opportunities to employ statisticians and take advantage of the information available.

Those with a background in a related field such as finance, computer science, engineering, or biology are expected to have the best job prospects.

Slightly Off the Footpath

Sources: amstat.org/careers/surveys.cfm; bls.gov/oco/ocos045.htm